2007 in Review

[mrlich]

Every year there are a couple of points during which I reflect on my life a little more intensely than usual. I say more intensely than usual because I may not be good at planning and at looking forward, but looking back sure seems a natural talent. I'm sure that some would even call it an obsession.

One of the first things that I find every time I review my life of late is that I am fortunate. I'm lucky in ways that I never would have seen or understood before, and those ways are infinite. I have the kind of friends and family that I think most people dream of but never get. Most people lose touch with folks that matter to them much more quickly in general than I do. And those few who do slip through the cracks because I let the chaos of everyday life get in the way? Well, I can touch base with them in moments and feel as though we never really did get out of sync.

If there's one thing you should take away from this 'year in review' post, it should be that. You're someone that I'm thankful for.

Ok - enough of the giant mushball. Time for some details:

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January -

I was working at MTM I'm not saying that my leaving the company had anything to do with it's overall trend during the year, but I'm not saying it didn't. I'll let you guys figure that out all on your own.*

I also did the Dragon Maker self portrait (thumbnail seen to the right) as part of an experiment. Somehow I seem to have removed it from my online galleries, so I'll re-upload it and link to it from that thumbnail.

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February - I started off the month on a pretty solid note. I did a quick 20 minute sketch session, the Ghost Rider image was a quickie, but fun, and the Supergirl image was one I did for the dryponder  's Supergirl Meme.

Then I tried something a little more 'naughty'. *Warning - Not Safe For Work*

Mid month, my buddies Jason and Krishna and Margaret came to the Lehigh Valley, so I got a chance to do some hang time with them. This happens far more rarely than I like. While Jason was around, we also checked out the Fortress for the Arts for the first time in Philadelphia.

I saw Ghostrider. By myself. I'm still denying it publicly. Then I did some more artwork - this time of Patch in a bit of a scrap.

Next, I ran a little experiment which I concider a huge success. I wanted to see what kind of a response I would get if I offered free portraits. The response was a bit overwhelming, and I had a great experience doing the work. I'll likely be doing more of that sort of thing in the future.

Then there was a little bit of love given to the ever faithful Moleskine. And then a little bit more in the way of a Patch portrait (see the image to the right). And lastly, an image of Patch and the others in the Fifth Column.

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March - Wrapped up the art experiment from February and I managed to break a tooth. Was pleased with one, and frustrated as hell with the other.

Next I did a dragonbones.net 'crest' of sorts.

I started getting the itch to write / draw comics - whether online or traditional. More draw than write, but there's a definite desire to work on the writing as well.

Participated in the 48 Hour Film Project. I had a ridiculous amount of fun and I'll absolutely be doing it again this year. Here's Tom's post about the director's cut - which thankfully restored a lot of ms_violet  's original humor.

I started taking suggestions for v2.0 of dragonbones.net. Wow. It's been almost a year and it's still not completed. Nothing like a yearly review to make you realize how much you've been slacking. kar0na  will be happy to know that I finally took bangheadhere off my links page. Ugh.

Next was a Captain America sketch for the Captain America Meme. This meme was at least partially brought about by Marvel Comics' decision to kill off one of it's most beloved characters.

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April -

I found out that I was going to be pimped out as a contractor to Barclays Bank. This would eventually lead to my taking the full time position with Barclays that I have now.

I found out that yet another person got my tribal dragon tattoo design done as a back piece. This is getting to be an almost 'common' back piece. (Which is a phrase that should never ever occur in my humble opinion.)

Next I did the "My Buddy and Me" self portrait for fun.

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May -

We had a party for xtingu  's Birthday Pie. (It's a long story - I'll let her explain - but rest assured that it's fun.)

Started working on my LightintheWoods website.

Visited the Netherlands with the Industrial Jazz Group. What an amazing experience that was. There's really nothing I can say here that will begin to encompass the experience. I will, however, say that the band rocked socks, and I'd probably never been more proud of my girl (and that's saying a lot).

I'm a little disappointed to say that there wasn't any artwork that I posted about in May. I suppose though that I can feel satisfied visited a country that required crossing an ocean and was immersed in another culture and their art and music. Yeah, that works.

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June -

I got annoyed with the employment posts on LJ.

xtingu  and I made art.. This was the start of something beautiful.

I moved into my new office in da bank.

I listened to jafosmite  , his brother, and his brother's band play down at the riverfront. I also met his mom (stop snickering - she's kewl).

I went to a party with some good friends.

A second month with no art posts. I'm wondering if this is a seasonal thing - like when the weather starts to break I'm too focussed on spring fever to do art? That seems criminal.

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July -

Wow. I finally finished the portrait experiment. That took me faaar longer than it should have.

I created my first comic strip ever. I was thrilled with both the result and the response from my friends and family.

Then strip number 2 of 1100.

And lastly - strip number 3 - after which, for reasons unbeknownst to me, I just completely stopped. I still plan on doing more of them, but as I stated back when I first created the strip, I don't plan on having it be a regular thing (despite what I may have said in this post).

I created the image to the right of a Pirate Ninja Robot. I'm sorry.

Took part in the blogathon doing a (warning - language not safe for work) movie in 24 hours to benefit Doctors Without Borders. Those who sponsored us with $25 or more were able to give us a line of dialogue which got worked into the movie. Hilarity ensued.

I became blinded to the issues with Facebook. It's ok though, because I later saw the light. I did think that it was the shit, but I had not yet seen how 'stalker friendly' it was. Then, with the advent of a bazillion little 'substanceless' apps, I began to see Facebook with a different perspective. I now think that it has a shit-ton of potential, but it needs more guts. I think that it's a great symbol of the 'dot com boom and bust cycle'. Once people realize that there isn't really any content there, they will just move on to the next big thing. Whatever that will be at the time. Or, if Facebook figures out how to make their site into something more substantial than a billion folks 'super poking' each other, then they will be able to keep riding the wave.

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August -

I spent almost the entire month immersing myself in my job and the concept of organizing my life and my desk. I came out on the other side of the month a better man for it. I think a little more clearly about things, and I'm a little better about categorizing things, but not by much. I really should make this sort of thing a regular habit. I should re-focus myself continuously.

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September -

Saw / heard Xfusion rawk the Arden Fair. That's a beautiful thing indeed. Just learning about the Arden Fair seems a really good thing, but to have jafosmite  and company doing their thing? It was quite excellent indeedy.

jeremym  had a bowling birthday bash which was amazing fun.

I bid lotusanddragon  a good journey for his Japan adventure. His plan was to be gone for roughly 1 year. As I sit here writing this, I don't know how that plan has changed, but I do know that he's having an awe-inspiring time over there. This was a big thing for me. The two of us have been as close as any two brothers for a great many years, and living with him was a blast. We knew, however, that when he came home I wouldn't be living in 1100 with him anymore. The end of an era. It was a good (albeit short) era with amazing times, and good people. I think that we're both looking forward to creating new experiences and fun homes, but I would be lying if I said that my heart wasn't at all heavy that early morning when I saw him take off for the airport.

I went for an awesome ride with burningkirby  , lee (sans lj), and ballz (also sans lj). It was the first time that I had the opportunity to ride with close friends in DE, and the gang did not disappoint. I'm very much looking forward to more runs like that in the future. Possibly some long haul stuff.

Got a new motherboard for my ailing pc. Hacked the hell out of it - including a pocket knife surgical alteration of the power cable plug. Yeah - I think that we have fire coverage - why do you ask? As a side note: the pc has never quite worked 100% with the new motherboard. Between the guy before me 'tweaking' the hell out of the bios and my manual hacks, I'm not all that surprised - I just don't care enough to make it right. I'm planning on a new machine sometime in the moderately near future, and it works more or less fine for now.

Went out with my family to celebrate my brother and my birthdays along with a trip to the Allentown Art Museum to see the Looney Tunes Exhibit. Since the museum is in downtown Allentown, I also got a chance to show xtingu  some of my old stomping grounds. It was a very surreal thing to be showing here that part of my world. It was a lifetime ago and in a parallel universe, but she seems to get it all. She's amazing - have I mentioned that recently?

Went to a wedding reception with the always smokin (though especially so that night) kar0na  .

Had the amazing good fortune to go with the IJG on another tour - this time in the midwest. That band is amazing. Their fans are amazing. I just plain love hanging out with them. Their lead singer is hot too.

boutell  got a tattoo of an image that I created. He designed it, so I certainly don't want to claim too much credit, but since it's by and far one of the coolest ideas for a tattoo I've seen, I don't mind throwing my name on it.

Experienced White Castle while in the midwest. This was the first time I'd had that delicious treat in what seems like millenia.

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October -

Started two new art projects. I've finished neither of them, but I also feel like both are still 'in progress'. I'm ok with that as long as I remain honest with myself about it. I've never been particularly bad at that, so all is good. When a project has died, I tend to know it and I give myself no room for bullshit.


Did the home inspection of our new house with xtingu's Dad and my own looking over my shoulder and offering priceless help. I felt so much better with them there. The home inspectors tend to be so worried about liability that they hardly tell you anything. The Two Dads™ were not so cautious. They agreed on everything and so I felt very confident in the (relatively minor) problems with the house.

Ahhh... artwork! Sorry for the crappy phone cam pic. This was originally for a charity event but I failed to finish it in time. If I finish it later, maybe I'll auction it off and give the money to the same charity, but I kinda doubt that I'll finish it. I've lost the desire to work on it.

Did another quick self portrait. This one was a bit more simplistic. Kinda like it though.

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November -

xtingu  and I moved into our new house. This is an amazing experience and I can think of no one that I would rather experience it with.

Witnessed the birth of the Joe Trainor Trio. The boys were amazing their first time out of the gate - and they're just getting better with each performance. I'm looking forward to the band having a nice long life.

Went to ms_violet  's wedding and had an amazing time with amazing friends. Best wedding I've been to in... well... a long damn time.

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December -

Started learning how to play the guitar.

Had an awesome time with xtingu checking out the pre-raphaelites at the Delaware Art Museum. I need to go back and spend a good deal more time absorbing all of it. Savored every minute.

Did a little (slightly tactless) Holiday eCard.

And lastly - I did some fan art of Jessica Hickman's character "Janet". I've always enjoyed the hell out of the character, and I figured it was about time I got around to some fan art.

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All in all, I would say that it has been a wonderful year. What's more, this seems like it was a really good exercise. It really helped to put things in my daily life into perspective.

I'll probably update this post a little bit later with whatever I find in xtingu  's journal that I failed to post about (and thus forgot to mention here). I'm going to leave that for later though. Right now? It's time to go make artwork with my beautiful girlfriend.

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* - If you really think for even a second that I had anything to do with any trend that could be found in their trading stats, then you give me way too much credit~